Container



Sept. 5, 1944. A. J. BROWN ET AL 2,357,309

coNTAiNER Fiied Dec. 15, 19:59 4 sheets-sheet 1 w 3mm,

HR' THU@ J. f7/@DUN HHE'RHH 5. 50PS/v ,JL/LES /V/SE/vsa/v INVENTORS ATTORNEY A. J. BROWN ET AL CONTAINER Sept. 5, 1944.

Filed Dec. 13, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 JULES /\//55/\/5U/v n INVENTORS BWMMM ATTO RNEY Sept. 5, 1944.

A. J. BROWN ET AL CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 13, 1939 8 7 9 9 N 9 9 N m f 4. www R E@ w /o I J 5 4J HEM 0 MM5 E m F54 l 6 2.1/ 8 1, 9. 7 19 m/ /9 9 SePf- 5 1944 A. J.- BROWN ET AL 2,357,309

CONTAINER Filed Dec. 13, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 2 9 57 22 4g. 4261. m 47 I' 22. 1X9? 25.

Q5 Il H@ THU@ J Emma/v HHH/$1111 E. {JUPE/v //./Ll E5 /V/sE/vsU/v INVENTORS www] AT TO R N EY Patented Sept. 5, 1944 CONTAINER Arthur J. Brown, Flushing,

Harry E. Copen,

Brooklyn, and Jules Nisenson, New York, N. Y., assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to Pak-Rak, Inc., a corporation of New York Application December 13, 1939, Serial No. 308,920

18 Claims.

This invention relates generally to containers and more particularly to containers specially constructed for the transportation of mens or womens clothing or other garments.

Heretofore, clothing has been shipped from manufacturer to warehouse or from warehouse to retail outlet by folding the garments and placing them layer upon layer in a container. Since the garments when made are normally supported upon hangers, this procedure involves the necessity of removing the garments from the hanger, manually folding the same; and doing the same operations in reverse order at the end of the trip to which the garments have been subjected. In view of the fact that the garments are laid upon each other, it is frequently'necessary in such a packaging procedure to pad the various garments by means of tissue paper, etc., in an effort to prevent unsightly creases. Furthermore, in as much as the garments packed at the lowest portions of the container support the weight of al1 of the garments thereabove, undesirable creas; ing and wrinkling must necessarily occur and this condition is aggravated by hot or humid conditions of travel.

On the receiving end considerable manual effort, time, and bother are required in order to place the garments into salable condition. The garments must be removed from the container, sponged and/or pressed, and placed upon hangers.

In accordance with the present invention all of these costly and unnecessary steps are obviated and it becomes necessary only to take the garments already on hangers and to hang up these hangers within a new container. T'he hangingup operation is so simple, that a plurality of hangers having garments thereon may be hung up at one time. So much for the beginning of the trip. During transit, each garment is supported upon an individual hanger, and no garment supports the weight of any of the others. At the end of the trip, it becomes necessary merely to open the container and remove the garments still on the hangers and transfer them to racks located in the warehouse or retail outlet.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a novel container wherein a plurality of garments are each individually supported upon hangers, and the container itself is particularly adapted for upright or vertical shipment so that none-of the garments bears the weight of any of the other garments.

Another object herein lies in the provision of novel supporting structure in combination with a container whereby the container may be completely knocked down so as to permit economical and convenient shipment and storage of the container and a considerable portion of the supporting structure.

Another lobject herein lies in the provision of novel garment supporting structure readily adapted for use with a greater number of garments than normal capacity.

A still further object of the invention lies in the provision of novel supporting structure which is readily installed in the container, requiring neither tools nor any skill on the part of the operator.

Another object herein lies in the construction of novel garment supporting means, for use in conjunction with a container, which are capable of economical large scale production and which possess the qualities of high strength and low weight. Depending upon various transit considerations such as distance and rates, it becomes possible to either use the container and supporting structure over again for a return trip or to collect a number of the containers and ship them to the sender in bulk at a reduced transportation rate; or by reason of the low cost of the combination container and supporting structure, to merely discard the same after a single use.-

A .still further object of the invention lies in the provision of garment supporting structure for use in combination with a light weight container, wherein the container may undergo a considerable amount of distortion in transit without deleteriously aiecting itself or the garments contained therein.

While where it is desired the present construction may be utilized in connection with rigid containers such as Wooden cases or the like, low cost cardboard, corrugated board, or ber-board substances may be used with'a consequent saving in weight.

'A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of secondary hanger carriers which in cooperation with the 'primary hanger carrier adapt the container for most eiiicient use with particular types of garments.

In accordance with the present invention the use of cardboard sheet separators between groups of garments is not required in order to prevent rum pling or shifting of the garments.

These objects and other incidental ends and. advantages will more fully appear in the progress of this disclosure and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings constituting a material part of this disclosure, similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing a container embodying the invention. In this view the container is completely closed and sealed.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of Figure 1 as seen from the plane 2 thereon.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the set up container as formed to receive the carrier supports which are removed in' this view for purposes of clarity.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view showing` a carrier support in a left hand position and the left or hook end of the retainer. Figure 4 is taken at the same level as Figure 4A and the primary hanger carrier is not shown, for purposes of clarity.

Figure 4A is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view showing a carrier support in a right hand position and the right or snap end of the retainer, as seen from the plane 4A-4A on Figure 8, the primary hanger not being shown.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the container in a folded or flattened condition, with a pair of carrier supports in place.

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of a carrier support in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention.

structure is generally indicated by numeral 22. The rack structure 22 includes a pair of carrier supports 23 and |23;- a. primary hanger carrier 25; secondary hanger carriers |25; and a re- 5 tainer 28.

l0 of corrugated cardboard sandwiched and cemented therebetween. The container 2| is preferably of one-piece construction, the ends of the container blank being connected by adhesive fabric tapes 21 and 23. The container may,

15 however, be made of two pieces in which case the fold line 42 would be supplantedby a suitable taped joint. The container 2| includes top wall 29, bottom wall 30, left side wall 3|, right side wall 32, rear wall 33, front wall 34 subdivided i, Figure 7 is avertical sectional view of Figure 6 20 into front doors 35 and 39, rear flaps 31 and 33,

as seen from the plane 1--1 thereon.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing a carrier support in a right hand position, the right or snap end of the retainer, an

end of the primary hanger carrier and a single 25 hanger. This view is as would be seen from the arrow 8 on Figure 1 with the container removed.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary View similar to Figure 8 but showing the left hand position, as would be seen from the arrow, 9 on Figure 1 with the 30 container removed.

Figure 10 is a view taken similarly to Figure 6,

vbut on a reduced scale, showing 9, carrier support in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention.

Figure 10Ay is an end elevational view of Figure 10 as seen from the right. i Figure 11 is a view taken simuany to Figure s, but showing a carrier support in accordance with asecond embodiment of the invention.V

Figure 12 is an end elevational view of Figure 11 as seen from the right.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary plan view of the primary hanger carrier.

Figure 14 is a schematic sectional view taken 45 from plane |4|4 of Figure 15.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary front elevational Y view of the primary hanger carrier.

Figure 16 is an end elevational view of Figure 15 as seen from the right end thereof.

Figure 1'1 is a fragmentary plan view of the retainer.

Figure 18 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the retainer.

Figure 19 is a vertical sectional view as seen 55 from the plane |9|9 on Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 20-20 on Figure 18.

, Figure 21 is a central vertical sectional view of a loaded container-looking toward the rear, or 60 as might be seen from the plane 2 |-2I on Figure 2. In this view both primary and secondary hanger carriers are shown.

Figure 22 is a `fragmentary side elevational viewof a secondary hanger carrier. v

Figure 23 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a secondary hanger carrier as seen from the left of Figure 22.

Figure 24 is a horizontal sectional view (slightly meral 2|, and the hanger maintenance 0r 15 and front flaps 39 and 4D. The rear wall 33 is divided into two doors and 36 similar to the doors 35 and 36 as shown in Figure 3.

In order tofacilitate the folding of the container so that the same may be easily shipped and stored in a flattened condition and that the container may be readily set up, the cardboard material is scored or compressed at the fold lines 4|, 42, and 43. Each of the doors and flaps described in the preceding paragraph, where it joins the top, bottom, or side walls is also scored lor compressed to form suitable fold lines.

The weight and strength of the material of y which the container 2| is fabricated will of course 35 lbe affected by the weight of the burden which it 40 container twenty inches square (when set up and closed) having a height of fifty-two inches has been found very satisfactory for .the shipment of womens dresses. As illustrated in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings, it is desirable that there be adequate'clearance between the ends of the hangers and45' and surfaces of the front and rear walls 34 and 33 respectively so that the shoulder and upper sleeve portions of the garments 44 and 244 shall not be abraded thereo against by reason of vibration or tilting of the container during transit.

The top wall 29 at the juncture ,thereof with the side walls is provided with slits or orifices 46 and 41 into which the inner plates 49 and 48 of the carrier supports |23 and 23 respectively, are inserted. In the container 2| as shown the oriiice 46 is formed by slitting the top wall 29 at the fold line 43, that is at the upper end of the inner surface of the side wall 3|; while the orifice 41 is merely the disconnection between the top wall 29 and the right side wall 32, between the tapes 21 and 28. Obviously if the container is inverted, the orifices 43 and 41 would both be formed in a manner similar to that just described for the orifice 46.

The carrier supports |23 and 23 are completely reversible so that they may both be identical, with a consequent saving in die, manufacturing and inventory cost. Since the carrier supports enlarged) of Figure l0 as seen from the plane 70 iagciemuniform, a description of one will suffice for The carrier support 23 is preferabiyblanked and formed from a single piece of sheet metal and .generally comprises an inner plate 48, a top portlon 50 and an outer plate 5|., The top porand parallel.

portion of inner plate 48 over the top tion 58 is bounded by two ninety degree bends 82 and 88 so that the carrier support is substantially inverted U shaped in cross section, with the inner surfaces of the vplates 48 and 5I spaced 'Ihe spacing between the plates 48 and is substantially equal to, or slightly less than the thickness of the wall 82 port 23 is frictionally maintained in position with the upper edge of the side wall abutting the inner surface of the top portion 58. The lower portion of the inner plate 48 is provided vwith ribs 84 and 55, while the outer plate is provided with similar ribs 58 and 51 as seen in Figure l. A pair o1' ribs 58 and 59 extend from the upper 58 and onto the upper portion of outer plate 5|. The various ribs 54 to 59 inclusive serve to add strength to the carrier Support and to prevent undesirable distortion thereof under the vario stresses encountered in service.

Centrally of the inner plate 48 and adjacent A the lower edge 68 thereof, the said plate is provided with two horizontally disposed, spaced and parallel incisions 8| and 62'and the plate area therebetween is formed into a socket 68 having an open top and bottom. VThe spacing between the inner surface of the socket 63 and the outer surface of the inner plate 48 is slightly greater than the thickness of thetabs 54 or 65 on the primary hanger carrier 25, described hereinbelow. The width of the opening in the socket 88 is slightly greater than the tabs 84 vor 85.

The plate 48, on the median line thereof. is provided with a circular crice 66, and to the left thereof, as viewed in Figure 6, said plate is provided withv a pair of spaced, parallel and vertically directed incisions 51 and 68. The plate area between the incisions 61 and 58 is formed into a pocket 68 having both sides thereof open. 'I'he vertical edges of the pocket 88 may be ared slightly similar to the third embodiment, see Figure 24. The spacing between-the inner surface of the pocket 58 and the outer surface of the inner plate 48 is slightly greater than the thickness of the tabs 10 or 1| on the retainer 28 more particularly described hereinbelow. 'I'he centers of the aligned on a horizontal axis, and the width of the openings in the pocket 89 is slightly greater than the tabs 18 or 1|.

The carrier support 23 is with the exception of the pocket 69, symmetrical about a vertical central axis. The lower` edge 58 of the inner plate 48 is of substantially the same width as the lower edge 12 of the outer plate 5|. 18 and 14 of the plate 5| converge rectilinearly from the bend 53 to the edge 12. The side edges and 18 have an irregular configuration, best vertical edges 11 and 18, the horizontal edges 19 and 88, the angularly diverging edges 8| and 82 and the inwardly converging edges 88 and 84. The connections of the various edges just described with each other, are rounded so that no sharp points occur, It is also to be noted that the edges 13 and 14 are not in alignment with edges 15 and 16.

The primary hanger carrier is preferably blanked and formed from a single piece of sheet metal and includes a horizontal top portion 85, longitudinally disposed vertical anges 86 and 81 and end tabs 64 and 65. The carrier is substantially inverted U shaped in cross section. The top portion 85 is channel shape, having a central longitudinally disposed downwardly extending rib The side edges so that the sup- 88. The ends 88, 88 and 9|, 82 of the flanges 88 and81 respectively are disposed short of the full length of the top portion 85 in order not to interfere with the socket 88 and |58. The tabs 84 and 88 having converging side edges 93 and 84 in order to facilitate the insertion of said tabs into the sockets 88 and 83. For the same purpose the socket 88 has the upper edge 85 flared outwardly slightly and also the inner plate edge 86 flared inwardly slightly (see Figure 7).

'I'he retainer 28 is preferably blanked and formed from a. single piece of sheet metal and includes a top portion 91, hook tab 18, snap tab 1|, horizontal shelf flange 88, and vertical lip flangev 98. The hook tab 18 projects forwardly forming a right angle with the top portion 81,

and is preferablyof the same height as top portion 81. The forward portion |88 is bent ata slight angle inwardly (best seen in Figure 1'1)` and the leading edge |8| has forwardly converging edges |82 and |88 which facilitate the insertion of the hook tab 18 into the pocket |68. The snap tab 1I projects rearwardly forming a right angle with the top portion 81, and is preferably 'of the same height. The snap tab 1| is provided with an outwardly projecting dome |84 and an inwardly projecting detent |85. 'The leading edge |88 has rearwardly converging edges |81 and |88 to facilitate the insertion of the snap tab 1| into the pocket 68. When the tab 1I is fully inserted, the dome |84 enters the orifice 88 with a snap action and the detent |85 abuts the pocket 68 and the oriice 88 are -and lower edges of the doors forward edge of the pocket 88. The ribs |89 and ||8 serve to maintain the tabs 18 and 1l in proper angular position with relation to the top portion Il" v The shelf iiange 88 and the lip flange 88 are so proportioned that there is Just'enough clearance between them and the top portion 85 and the nearest flange 88 or 81 to allow the hook portion of the hangers to lie therebetween. The end of lip flange 99 adjacent the hook tab 18 has an indentation H2 to permit the leading edge |8| to be inserted into the pocket |68.

The secondary hanger carriers |28 are preferably formed of wire and each includes a hook portion |84, a relatively long shank |85 and a xiangle portion |88, best seen in Figures 22 and Operation The container 2| received dition as illustrated in Figure erected. The rear wall 38 is ing flaps 31 and 88 through ninety degrees and then the rear doors 85 and 86 are similarly folded. The meeting edges of the doors are joined with a strip ||3 of adhesive tape. The upper 85 and 88"are bottom wall '88 in a flattened con- 5 is opened up and integrated by foldjoined to the top wall 28 and respectively by means of strips H4 and I|5 respectively of adhesive tape. If the carrier supports l|28 and 28 have not previously been attached to the upper portions of the walls 8| .and 82, the inner plates 48 and 48 are now inserted into the orifices 48 and 41 respectively.

The front doors 85 and 88 are now open. The ap 48 rests on the door; while the flap 39 may be folded through 270 degrees from its position in Figure 2, so as to be out of the way. The left end of the primary hanger carrier25 is introduced within the container 2| to a position behind the pocket |68 and directly over the socket I 88; while the other end having the tab is swung into the container about the tab I4 as a4 center. When the tabs 84 and 'Il are directly over the sockets |03 and the entire hanger carrier is lowered into place. Since the can'ier 25 is of fixed dimensions and the container is not absolutely rigid the flares Il and the converging edges and I4 permit the carrier to be manually pushed downwardly into Iplace thus properly aligning the parts.

Now a plurality of garments on hangers hung on the primary hanger carrier 2l. Since the retainer 2l has not yet been inserted there is ample space between the top portion ll and the under surface of the top wall 2! sc'that the several hangers with hook portions open be put in place in a single hanger Il has been shown in Figure 8 for purposes of clarity, but obviously many may be racked next to each other limited only by the length of the carrier 25 and the are operation. Only Ithickness of the garments 44 as well as the hangers, as seen in Figure 21.

Many types of garments, as for example womv ens dresses when placed upon the hangers 4l present a greater thickness in the shoulder portions directly adjacent the vhangers 45 than they do in the nether portions thereof. Thus with the garments placed in the container 2i under a certain compression longitudinally of the primary hanger carrier, they will be under considerably less compression in the nether portions thereof. In accordance with the present invention advantage of this fact is taken, and a plurality of subsidiary or secondary hanger carriers are utilized. The hook portions lll are placed upon the primary carrier 2l and the slender shanks |65 pass downwardly between the hangers 45 at the region of the greatest compression and thereby maintain the triangle portions |86 in a position where they may support additional hangers 45 which in turn have additional garments 244 thereon. In this fashion the compression may be equalized and a considerably greater number of garments may be carried without appreciably increasing the compression and thus without increasing the tendency of the garments to wrinkle or crease.

After all of the hangers and garments are in place the hook end of the retainer 2l is introduced into the container into a position indicated by the dot-dash lines on Figure 4 in which the forward portion |00 of the hook tab 1I is in contact with the plate 48. The tab 1l is moved.

forwardly in the direction of the arrow ||1 and the cam action of the inner surface of the tab 10 in cooperation with pocket |89 assists the twisting of the retainer 28 into fully seated position. The snap end of the retainer approaches the pocket 69 from a position indicated by the dot-dash lines in Figure 4A. Moved rearwardly in the direction of the arrow inserted into the pocket I9 and snaps into place as described above.

With the retainer in place the hangers 45 arc permitted only limited movement. Upward movement is prevented by the shelf flange 9|. Forward or rearward movement is prevented by the lip flange 99 in cooperation withk the primary hanger carrier.

The flaps 39 and 40 are next moved to the positions shown on Figure 1 and the front doors and 36 are closed and sealed with adhesive strips H9, |20, and |2|.

When the container arrives at its destination. it is only necessary to cut the strips lli, |20,

lll the tab 1| is' and I2| and to remove the retainer in order to remove the hangers and garments. is removed by reversing the operations of its installation.

In order to facilitate loading, handling and unloading of the container, instructions may be placed on the outside of the container indicating that the container is to be shipped and placed right side up and also which are the front doors, since the container 2| presents a symmetrical external appearance.

In accordance with the present construction the entire weight of the hanger rack structure 22, the hangers 4l and 4I', and the garments 44 and 244, is primarily borne by the upper portions of the side walls Il and I2. Ihe length of the top portions il distributes the strain over sunlcient area so `that the pressure is not great enough at any point to start tearing the walls of the container.

When the container 2| is shifted about in transit, forces are set up which are transmitted to the carrier supports .2l and |23 causing them to turn about their own central vertical axes. The disalign'ment of the edges 13 and 14 of the plate 5| with the edges "and 1l prevents the pairs of edges 1I. Il and 14, 1I, from having a shearing or breaking action. The peculiar con'- figuration of the edges 1l and 16 by reason of the indentations formed by the edges 19, 8|, and 80, 82 checks any tendency of the walls to tear along the edges 11 or 18 while the round nosed projections |22 and 222 (Figure 8) flex slightly when the carrier support is twisted and thus do not start a tear in the inner surface of the side wall which they contact.

4 support of the Turning now to the second embodiment of thel invention illustrated in Figures 11 and 12 a modification o'f the carrier support 23 is shown. In this form indicated generally by numeral 23' the principal differences are the lowered position of the projections |22 and 222'; the more obtuse angles of the indentations formed by the edges 19', 8|' and 80', 82'; also the horizontally disposed tabs |44' and |45' which extend over the inner plate 4B' projecting directly of! the top portion 50'. The tabs |44' and |45' increase the foundation area and thus add to the vertical primary carrier support 23' by resting upon the top wall 23 directly thereunder.

In the third embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 10 and 10A, and 24 another modincation of the carrier support 23 is shown. In this form indicated generally by numeral 23" the principal differences are the lowered position and the greaterradius roundness of the projections |22" and 222"; the rounded indentations 19" and 80"; the rounded tabs |44", |45, |46", and |41"; the complete disalignment of the inner plate 48 and the outer plate 5I". The pocket 69" has the vertical edges thereof flared inwardy slightly while the adjacent edges of the plate 48" are oppositely flared. The plate 4I" is provided with an indented track IBI". The dome IM engages this track and guides the moving end 1| into the pocket Si", the flaring just described assisting this operation. Since the greatest distance between the outer edges of the rounded projections |22" and 222 is equal to the distance between the points |41" and |48, the slits or orifices 46 and 41 need be made only an equal length thus the tabs |24" and |25" may rest on the top wall 29 where it solidly joins the side walls. The tabs |4I" and |41" serve to prevent any tendency of the free edges of the top wall The retainer y adjacent thereto to buckle upwardly and thus admit dust.

It may thus be seen that the present invention provides a novel and useful container especially suitable for the shipment of garments in bulk. By reason of the unique construction and cooperation of the parts in the rack structure heavy loads may be supported and contained by relatively light weight boxes and cartons. Being made of stamped sheet metal, as illustrated in the illustrated preferred embodiments, Y the rack structure is light in weight, strong, compact and cheap. The parts may be dismantled and in that condition take up little space. By reason of the individual suspension of each garment on its own y hanger, the container may be closely packed with a `considerable number of garments, without wrinkling, creasing, or otherwise deleteriously affecting the same. The novel secondaryhanger carriers disclosed herein are very efficient and useful, and the tion thereof is important.v Since the triangle portion |66 is disposed with the base of the triangle uppermost, a wide space is provided between the upper bends and I'H so that a few hangers 45 may be inserted therebetween simultaneously, thereby saving time both in loading and unloading. The hook portion III of the hangers 45' however, after being manually released are caused to` bunch up or Wedge together by reason of the converging portions I 12 and I 13. This wedging action is useful in positively maintaining the portions l I I' in the triangle portion during transit.

We wish it to be understood that we do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modications will occur to aperson skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. In combination: a container composed of sheet material and having a continuous side wall and top wall, the top wall being disposed at an angle with relation to the side wall; said container having a slit disposed at the juncture of the side wall and the top wall; a carrier support having an inner'and an outer plate connected by a top portion; the inner plate penetrating said slit, and the inner opposedsurfaces of said plates engaging only the side wall therebetween, and the inner surface of the top portion of the carrier support engaging only the upper edge of the side wall bordering said slit.

2. A garment rack adapted to be installed within a container, said rack comprising: a pair of inverted U shaped carrier supports for engaging opposite side walls of said container, each ofl said supports having an inner plate, an outer plate and a top portion; each of said inner plates havlng a socket projecting therefrom, said socket having an opening directed toward the said top portion; and a primary hanger carrier having downwardly directed tab ends, which are insertable into said sockets through the socket openings, movement of said carrier supports toward or away from each other in the direction of the axis of the hanger carrier being limited by said tabs and said hanger carrier.

3. A garment rack adapted to be installed within a container, said rack comprising: a pair of inverted U shaped carrier supports each commaterial folded upon itself to form peculiarly shaped triangle portially parallel to the upper edge thereof, the said plate being deformed in a direction away from the outer plate, providing an upwardly opening socket; and a primary hanger carrier having downwardly directed tabs on the ends thereof, said tabs being insertable in said sockets by movement of the hanger carrier in a downward direction, movement of said carrier supports toward or away from each other in the direction of the axis of the hanger carrier being limited by said tabs and said hangerA carrier.

4. A garment rack adapted to be installed within a container, said rack comprising: a. pair of inverted U shaped carrier supports each having an inner plate, an outer plate, and a top portion connecting the upper edges of said plates, said inner plate having a pair of horizontal, rectilinear, spaced and parallel slits, the portion of the inner plate located between said slits rbeing 204 deformed away from the outer plate, forming a socket; and a primary hanger carrier having downwardly directed ends which are lnsertable into said sockets, movement of said carrier supports toward or away from each other being limited by said ends and said hanger carrier.

5. In combination:

positioned, edges of said side walls; a garment rack adapted to be detachably installed within the container. comprising a pair of inverted U shaped carrier supports each having anv inner plate, an outer plate, a top portion connecting said plates, and an upwardly opening socket on said inner plate; said container having a pair of oppositeiy disposed slits at the Juncture of the top wall and the side walls, tlie inner plates of the carrier supports beingdowhwardly insertable through said slits; a primary hanger carrier having downwardly directed ends receivable by sala sockets; the distance between the opening of the socket and the upper edge of the inner plate being greater than the height of the ends on the hanger carrier, movement of said carrier supports toward or away from each other being limited by said ends and said hanger carrier.

6. A garment rack structure adapted for installation within a container, said rack structure com-i retainer being disposed to one side and above the primary hanger carrier; sliaable means detachably connecting the retainer to one of the carrier carrier support.

7. A garment structure adapted for installation within a container to support a plurality of garments in the container, said structure comprising: a pair of carrier supports each having an inner plate with a pocket therein; said carrier supports engaging opposite side walls of the container; a primary hanger carrier connected to said supports and adapted to carry hangers thereon; a retainer for keeping said hangers on the hanger carrier, said retainer having a hook at one end thereof and a tab on the other end; said hook being detachably non-rectilinearly slidably connectable with and seatable within one pocket,

said tab being detachably engageable in the other pocket.

8. A garment rack structure adapted for installation within a container, said rack structure comprising: a pair of carrier supports each hava retainer for keeping said hangers on the hanger 10 carrier, said retainer being composed of sheet material including a horizontal shelf, a top portion projecting perpendicularly up from one longitudinal edge of the said horizontal shelf, a vertical lip flange projecting perpendicularly down from the other longitudinal edge of said shelf, said top portion extending beyond theA ends of ythe shelf portion and including a hook on one end thereof .and a tab on the other ena-.thereon said nook being slidably connectable with the pocket in one" 2'0 support and the tab being insertable inthe pocket on the other support.

9. A garment rack structure as claimed in claim 'l in which the inner plates of the carrier supports have vertically disposed spaced slits, the

portions of the inner plates between said slits being displaced out of the plane of the said inner plates to form the pockets.

10. A carrier support for use with a container having a wall, said support being substantially inverted U shape in cross section, including a pair of spaced, opposite and parallel substantially planar plates engaging the said wall therebetween, the upper edges of said plates being connected by a top portion; the first of said plates 351" having a pair of generally vertically directed side edges; the second of said plates having a pair of generally vertically directed side edges not in alignment with the side edges of the firstiplate;

a portion of the second plate being horizontally wider than the firsty plate and another portion of the second plate being horizontally narrower than the first plate.

11. A carrier support for use with a v'ontainer having aplanar wall, said support being 5com- 5 posed of a single sheet of material folded upon itself in inverted U shape (in cross section) having an inner plate, an outer plate, and a topportion connecting the upper portions of the' said plates which are spaced and parallel; the vertical side edges of the outer plate being substantiallyl rectilinear and c onverging toward each other as they approach the lower edge of the outer plate; the vertical side edges of the inner plate converging toward each other as they approach the lower edge of the inner plate, the upper portions of the side edges of the inner plate having indentations directed toward each other, the opposite upper portions of the side edges of the outer plate being unindented, the vertical side edges of the inner plate and the vertical side edges of the outer plate being substantially disaligned.

12. A carrier support as claimed in claim 10 having a pair of ribs extending from the upper portion of the first plate over the top portion and onto the upper portion of the second plate.

13. A carrier support for use with a container having a wall, said support being substantially inverted U shape in cross section, including a pair of spaced, opposite and parallel plates engaging the said side wall therebetween, the upper edges of said plates being connectedby a top portion; the lfirst of said plates having a pair of I opposite rectilinear edges arranged generally vertically; thesecond of said plates having a pair l of opposite non-rectilinear edges arranged generally vertically,

14. A carrier support as claimed in claim 13 having a tab projecting of! said top portion and disposed at an angle with relation to one of said plates.

15. A garment rack for use with hook type garment hangers said rack being adapted to be installed within a container, comprising: carrier supports for engaging walls of said container; a primary hanger carrier connected to said supports and adapted to carry a first group of said garment hangers thereon; and a secondary hanger carrier detachably suspended by the primary hanger carrier and adapted to carry a second group of said garment hangers thereon, said secondary hanger carrier including a hook shaped member adapted to engage the primary hanger carrier and having an orifice at the lower end thereof in which the hook portions of said second group of garment hangers are engageable,

16. For use with a garment rack including a transversely disposed primary hanger carrier and a garment hangerhaving a h`ook: a secondaryA hanger carrier comprising a hook shaped member at the upper end thereof and an elongated body portion having a triangularly shaped orice in the lower portion thereof within which the hook of the garment hanger is loosely and detachably engageable, the base and widest portion of the triangularly shaped oriiice being disposed above the apex thereof, whereby a plurality of garment hanger hooks may be simultaneously inserted into said orifice at the widest portion thereof and will be brought together by gravity and the downwardly converging sides of the said triangularly shaped orifice,

17. A garment rack adapted to be installed within a container, said rack comprising: a pair of carrier supports engageable with opposite side walls of said container, each of said supports having an upwardly opening socket and a side opening pocket laterally displaced with relation to the socket; a primary hanger carrier having downwardly directed tab ends insertable into said sockets; a retainer the ends of which are horizontally insertable into said pockets, the retainer in its seated installed position blocking the upward path of travel of the primary hanger carrier; movement of said supports with relation to each other being limited by said primary hanger carrier and said retainer.

18. For use with a garment rack including a transversely disposed primary hanger carrier and garment hangers having hooks: a secondary hanger carrier comprising a hook shaped member at the upper end thereof land an elongated body portion having a triangularly shaped orifice in the lower portion thereof withinvwhichthe hooks of the garment hangers are loosely and detachably engageable, the base or widest portion of the f' said lower portion is disposed at substantially right angles to said hook shaped member.

ARTHUR J. BROWN. HARRY E. COPEN. JULES NISENSON. 

